This is the time of year when soon-to-be-graduating nursing students start to panic. Their college years are almost over. In two short months, they will be graduating and preparing for the NCLEX exam - It’s time to get a job. As if there isn’t enough going on, they are faced with the critically important task of writing a resume. I am posting some suggestions I offer to them below:

Some ways to describe student nurse /PCA duties: Instead of "I gave baths and assisted with ADLs" Say I assisted patients in meeting their personal care needs and provided individualized attention/interventions while encouraging patient involvement in self-care, promoting independence, and maintaining dignity

Instead of: "I was a float"Try: I have experience adapting to any hospital unit / a variety of clinical areas /changing situations/environments. I have the ability to quickly establish rapport and a positive working relationship with nurses and ancillary staff. I can quickly orient myself to unit, independently take initiatives/ require minimal assistance/ encouragement/ instruction…

I can function as an integrated member of the staff/team in any situation and deliver the safe, effective/efficient care to complex pts. I can readily/easily adapt methods/ interventions to a wide range of situations.

Instead of "I was a sitter"Try: I have experience providing focused, one-to-one care and ensuring a safe, nurturing/caring/positive environment for patient’s who are at a significant risk for injury or complications.

Other descriptions of duties -Acted as pt advocate, expressing pt concerns/needs/desires to nurses and other staff who were unable to devote/ spend as much time with patient

- Assessed level of orientation, ability to read and understand written material (menu, paper) and comprehend what was read, ability to make decisions (meal choices), etc.

Comments

Dorothy S

08/19/2011 09:57

very helpful tips indeed

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Keisha Fulgencio

12/15/2011 18:35

I find this blog to be very insightful.I am a new graduate RN who has been trying to put together a resume that will land me my first Job as a nurse. This has been very challenging because I have no previous experience in health care.So thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences.

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A life-loving, vivacious and ambitious Family Nurse Practitioner & a self-proclaimed knowledge-junkie who is obsessed with all things medical and nursing.